MISSING TOOLS-second verse of "My Eternal Family"

Usually I have "Repeat Week" the second week of the month; however, this month has five weeks and we didn't even touch the second verse of "My Eternal Family" on Sunday. So, I decided to spend the extra Sunday working on the second verse and I will have "Repeat Week" next Sunday.

I will be posting my "Repeat Week" activity in a few days for those of you who would like to move on to bigger and better things. Or, you could adapt this activity for a repeat activity by attaching different ways to sing the song to the different tools.

With that said, here is my lesson plan for the second verse of "My Eternal Family".

Prep:

1 Diaper Box wrapped with the word TOOLS on the front.

1 garden kneeling pad

1 comforter (blanket)

1 large paper rolled like blue prints would be. On it you will have the outline of a home and a picture of the scriptures inside. (You could just go the easy way and use a Book of Mormon, ...but what's the fun in that?)

1. Picture of Your family and a Picture of the Temple

Picture helps

Have number tags that are clearly visible on the objects. Place them around the Primary room before children enter.

Presentation:

I am going to come in with my hard hat and my "Tool" box in hand. I am going to tell them that today is so exciting because I brought my tool box that I use to build my home for them to see what's inside, but before we can do that we have to sing the first verse again to remind us what our song is about. After the song has been sung, open your tool box and looked surprised. Say, "Oh no! My tools are missing. I wonder where I left them." Call up a helper to find object #1. Place the Hart Hat on their head while they hunt for the object. Have them come and put it into your box after you talk about what it represents. Hold up your picture helps and say and sing the line two times. Continue this until the entire verse has been sung. Go back and sing the entire song together.

Line one: Garden Kneeling Pad (Represents the need for us to be on our knees to pray for guidance).

Line Two: Comforter (The word Comforter is another name for the spirit. The spirit will guide us as we invite Him to be in our homes)

Line Three: Blue Prints (Represents our Heavenly Father's plan for our lives and the guide the scriptures can be.)

Line Four: Family Picture (We want our families to be together for ever in Heavenly Father's Presence.

When you get to the chorus, just remind them they already know that part and review it with your picture helps.

*Originator: The Crazy Chorister

Following the Leader

A few of you have asked how I find ways to keep the craziness of kids under control during singing time. I am sure there are several ways to go about this, but here a few ideas that have really been successful in my primary.

1. First and foremost, these kids know I love them. I go out of my way to learn their names. When I see them in the hallway or when I enter the chapel before church begins I say hello and ask them if they are ready to have a fantastic time in Primary today. I do my very best to make coming to Primary the highlight to their week.
   
   


2. I often begin singing time with a wiggle song (especially for the Jr. Pri). This helps them get the need to move and be free out of the system a bit. I specifically choose wiggle songs that have actions that they have to follow me (Do as I'm doing, Hands, Head, shoulders knees and toes, Once there was a snowman, Popcorn Popping,). Or, you can even do some hand rhymes such as Open/Shut Them.
   
   


3. After the wiggle song, I ask them to sit down and be reverent so I can explain the fun things we get to do today. If they are still having a hard time paying attention I speak softer and softer to where I might only be moving my mouth. Kids find this really interesting and stop so they can hear what I am trying to say. I will continue to almost wispher so they have to really listen to hear me.
   
   


4. I never ask open ended questions such as "Who would like to be my helper today?" I have a cup full of popcycle sticks with every child's name on it, and the kids know that they have the same chance as anyone else to be called up. It took a few Sundays, but the kids are very used to this and there is no begging or throwing fits because they didn't get their name called. It usually takes me about a month before the rotation begins again, but everyone does get a turn eventually.
   
   


5. I let the teachers do the discipling. That is a huge reason why the children have their teachers present during Sharing/Singing time. Let the responsiblity for taking care of a child who is having a rough time fall to the teacher. I usually will stop mid sentence and wait with my arms folded until the child stops or is removed. Again, it took a few weeks, but the kids have come to understand that I'm consitant and that they all miss out on FUN when we have to stop. The kids have really become their own disciplinary group. They really all keep each other in check.
   
   


6. I hold the kids responsible to learn and sing the song their very best. I tell them that they have the opportunity, through music, to invite the spirit in to our Primary to help us learn and feel Heavenly Father's love for us and for the ward. I challenge them to take the music home, teach it to their families, and understand the meaning. For the Jr. Primary this might seem a bit much, but you would be surprised the parents of the Sunbeams that have come up to me and told me that their three year old will not stop singing our lastest primary hit.
   
   


7. Pray to know the specific needs for your primary kids. All Primary rooms are not the same and the dynamics won't be either. However, all children want to be loved and all children want to have fun. The spirit can direct you in how best to do those two things for your primary kids.
   
   Above all, Hang in there.

Gifts

I am excited to begin teaching March's song: My Eternal Family. I've been pondering how to teach this one for a long time.

Every 1st Sunday of the Month is "Discovery Sunday". We always get to discover what the new theme and song for the month is going to be. I try to come up with an activity that will stick in their minds so it will help them recall the words and meaning of the song as we progress through the month. So, here it is...

Prep:

• 5 card board boxes that have been wrapped or gift bags. I plan to make them bright and exciting to look at. It will be much easier if you have a removable top to the boxes so they don't have to unwrap it (they can be of varying sizes depending on the object that will go within them)


• All the following items will be wrapped in an individual box: VERSE #1 A Hard Hat and tool box (these were all out of my kids toy box), a picture of a family, a serving tray with a paper heart taped to it, a paper growth chart (you can make your own by taping several pages together and marking height marks on the side), a picture of smiling lips with kind words surrounding it, a small hammer, and a child's toy, a picture of the council in Heaven, a small hand dumbbell, a picture of a family standing by the temple. You can make boxes for the second verse; however, I don't believe time will allow for it...at least in my situation. I plan to cover the second verse if I have time by just using the props we've already discovered and through the picture prompts I will bring that I will be using the rest of the month.


• Picture Prompts from the Jolly Jenn web site....or you can make your own.

Presentation:

I will line up the boxes and tell them that I have brought the Primary some special gifts to open. Each Gift has a clue to a part of the song we will be learning this month in Primary, but before we open them we need to close our eyes and listen to the music of the song. After the song has been played once through slowly, I will then allow one child at a time to come and open a box. As we open and discover what is inside each box we'll discuss what the object could possibly represent. (you should really guide this discussion with the Jr. Primary so time isn't taken up on certain objects). As we decide what the objects represent, I will show my picture prompt for that line of the song and we'll say it and sing it two times.

After we have learned the entire first verse, I will tell the children that our families are a precious gift that Heavenly Father has given too us, and that we need to be good builders in our families to keep them strong and keep them full of love so we can be together forever.

*Originator: The Crazy Chorister

PS. I apologize to those I promised that I would post "pictures" that I made for this. Honestly, I really just drew a silly picture of lips with some nice words surrounding it. And, I used pictures of my family and other pictures I had around my home for the other pictures involved with this activity. It wasn't something that I thought was actually worth putting on this page. I'm sure you all could do much better. I did however find a terrific flip chart for this song on the Sugardoodle site. The link is in the comments section of this post.

Punch It! --the new and improved posting

Hey,

Sorry it took me so long to post this week. Here is my Challenge/test activity that I will do this week so the kids can pass off their song for the month.

Prep:

1 Heavy Duty poster board (cut 12 holes in the board the size of your containers)
12 small plastic containers (I am using small XS Ziplock plastic containers)
12 Strips of paper with challenges on them
12 small sheets of Tissue paper to cover the containers
Picture helps for the song

1 tape and tape recorder for challenge 12

Cut 12 holes in your heavy duty poster board. Make sure that the hole is big enough so the container can easily fit into it, but small enough where the lip of the container will hold it snugly in place.

Place your challenge papers inside the containers. Here are the challenges that I came up with...

Challenge 1: Sing second verse without picture helps (4pts)
Challenge 2: Sing the line that comes AFTER these words: "Is Laid For Your Faith" (5pts)
Challenge 3: Choose a different song to sing (2pts)
Challenge 4: Sing either the first or last verse without Chorister helping with words (6pts)
Challenge 5: Automatic 10 pts!
Challenge 6: Sing the Line that comes BEFORE these words: "and cause thee to stand". (5pts)
Challenge 7: You have 20 secs to put picture helps in order. (5pts)
Challenge 8: Whisper sing 1st Verse/ Staccato second verse (5pts)
Challenge 9: Teachers have to say the first two words of the last verse (3pts)
Challenge 10: Watch Chorister for cut off, if you cut off correctly (4 pts)
Challenge 11: Stand on one foot while singing either 1st or 2nd verse double time (6pts)
Challenge 12: Have your voices recorded while singing your best. Listen if you got it. (8pts)

Cover each container with tissue paper. I decided to go crazy and cover each one with a different color of paper. I held the tissue to the container by putting a rubber band around each one. Remember to bring extra tissue sheets so you can redue the board for Sr. primary.

Here is a picture of the board I made. (Note-I did add the words "Primary Punch" to the top of the board later on)

Front View

Back View (you can see the challenge paper in the containers)

Okay, so simply explain that you will call upon a child to come and punch one of the holes. Have them remove the paper and read it. It will contain a challenge on it that the kids will participate in . Go until time runs out. You should be able to get through all of them in the 20 min time period.

I hope that makes sense.

*Originator: The Idea Door

**Adapted by The Crazy Chorister

Getting Families involved...

I've decided that every month I will hand out a invitation to the children to give to their parents. This will invite them to sing our current primary song in FHE that month. I will provide the words to the song for them on the invite. This month, I bought those craftstore foam cutout hearts and pasted the invite onto them so it's more sturdy and they won't loose it as easy. I might stick a magnet strip on the back so they can hang in on their fridge, but...we'll see if I get to that this week.

I am a true believer that what is reinforced in the home will stay with the child for a life time. And, I think it will truly help the little ones get the words perfect.

This along with the CDs that were made should be a powerful teaching boost to knowing the songs for the program.

*Idea by The Crazy Chorister

Ward Conference

Hi everyone. First, thank you so much for all the positive feedback that you are giving me. I really just started this blog to keep track of what I was doing for myself, but I am so happy that my blog and other wonderful blogs dedicated to primary choristers are helping so many of you. Thank you to many of you who are sharing your ideas as well.

Second, just so you know..."The Brick Wall" idea I posted this past week went AMAZING! I am shocked too say it, but my primary kids know all the words to this song and sing it out. I feel really blessed because the first week was sort-of rocky. I always encourage the kids to go home and ask their parents to include the song of the month in FHE so they can learn the words better. I think its working because there was a marked improvement.

Third, my ward conference is this coming Sunday. The Stake has asked that all the Primary leaders attend RS/EQ/HP, so I get a break. I hope the stake has them sing the song at least once, but I might have to do a bit of reviewing on week four.

I will be working on and will post week four probably sometime later this week. I always do a Test Day on the fourth Sunday of the month, and this one is a good one.

Thanks again for all the support.

Hang in there, do your best, and the Lord fills in the rest.

The Brick Wall

First, I would like to say this is one of the hardest songs I have taught to Jr. Primary. There are a lot of difficult words to understand, but I think they'll get it with time and repetition. Also, if you are looking at this sight and are NOT a member of the Primusic group on Yahoo...go get on. It's a great forum for many brilliant chorister minds. I was inspired by some of the comments and of course had to twist it into something totally crazy....so here it is.

How Firm a Foundation week #2
My second week of the month is always "Repeat Week". So I find interesting ways to help the kids repeat the song as many times as possible so it's burned into their minds.

Prep:

Card board bricks: I know this isn't a resource that most people have. I happen to get these at a garage sale last summer. If you do not have these and wish to do this, I would suggest possibly getting some Styrofoam bricks from the craft store, you could use baby wet wipe boxes (if you have enough of them)...or possibly even those plastic zip lock containers....or you could do a smaller version of this using children's wooden building blocks. (I was inspired by the Jenga idea so you could do this with a set of Jenga blocks as well.) **Stacy in the comment section suggested Kleenex boxes. I love it! It would be such a great substitute for these blocks. She also put a great link for the bricks...go check it out.

Action strips: Type out some different ways to sing the verses such as: Boys sing, Girls sing, Hum the song, change the tempo, you lead....etc. The idea here is to give variety, but to allow the repeated singing of the same song so it doesn't get boring.

So, before primary..build the wall. The Word strips can be facing the kids or you could hide them on the inside of the bricks so they don't know what they are going for. I am going to leave several bricks without a action strip so they can get a bonus try if they don't get a word strip.

Basically you'll ask someone to come up. They have to try and remove a brick from the middle or side of the wall and place it on top of the wall without it falling. I had my four year old try this by herself and she did very well so I am confidant that we would be able to go several rounds before it would spill over. You could assist Jr. Primary to remove the bricks if you're nervous about it. The motivation here is...if it spills over we have to sing the entire song straight through...so they will be very careful.

I will sum it up by saying that when you are not careful with your testimony (if you don't pray, read scriptures, obey mom and dad...etc) you will leave holes in your testimony that eventually will cause your FOUNDATION to collapse. You need to always be working on making it strong .

Some bricks removed

*Originator: The Crazy Chorister

How Firm a Foundation

So, our new song for Feb is "How Firm a Foundation". I decided to introduce it in the following way.

Prep:

2 see through containers
1 flat rock (rather large)
1 lego house
4 cups sugar
1 pitcher of water
Printed picture helps off of the Jolly Jenn site

Tell the children that you are going to learn a new song for this month, but before you do you would like to sing "The wise man and the foolish man" At this point, draw their attention to the first container that has the rock in it. Place the lego house on the rock. While the children sing "the wise man built his house upon the rock", pour the rain on the rock. Obviously the house will stand still. At this point, talk to the children about what happened to the house when the rain fell. Then sing "The foolish man built his house upon the sand"...Place the same lego house on the "hill" of sugar in the other container. When the rain comes down..pour the water over the house....eventually,..the house will fall as the sugar dissolves beneath it. Talk about what just happened to the house and why it happened.

Then show the title to the song they will be learning. Ask them "What does Foundation Mean?" Talk about the rock being the foundation for the house and how you need something very strong to hold up through tough storms...relate that to the Savior and the Gospel being our "Firm Foundation" in our lives to save us from the storms that will come.

Teach the song showing the picture helps. Say a line and have them repeat it and then sing that line....continuing until the song is complete. Discuss any hard or difficult words that may come up. Help them get comfortable with the sound and feel of the song.

*Originator: As far as I know, Sister Bell who lived in my ward years ago.
**Adapted by The Crazy Chorister